PATHWAYS TO PROSPERITY NETWORK INSTITUTE, OCT. 26-28, 2016

MyBestBets: A Data-Driven Approach to Career Advising

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Session Overview

Overview• Background:WhatisaBestBet?Whyisitimportant?• DeeperdiveintotheFrameworkandTools• Whatarewelearninginthefield?• Whattools/resourcesareavailabletothePtoPNetworkrightnow?

Expectations• Askquestions• Shareyourstories• Pleasebeintouch!

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The Challenge

SOURCES:BureauofLaborStatistics(BLS),CurrentPopulationSurvey.Dataareforpersonsage25andover.Earningsareforfull-timewageandsalaryworkers.*BLS,EmploymentProjections:2015-2025Summary.

The Challenge

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Acollege orjobtrainingprogramthat:þ Iscompressedandleadstoacredential(lessthana

bachelor'sdegree),oftenstackableþ Isaccessibletoyourstudents(oratleastasubsetof

them)þ Hasstrongretention(75%+)andcompletion(65%+for

certificateprogram; 55%+forassociate’sdegreeprogram) rates

þ Hasevidenceofhighjobplacement– atleast75%ofprogramgraduatesareabletogainjobsintheindustry

...andthatpreparesstudentsforanentry-leveljobthat:

þ Isgroundedinstudentcareerinterestandaccessibletoapplicantswithlittleornoindustryexperience

þ Requireslessthanabachelor'sdegreeþ Isprojectedtogrowandhasopeningsintheregionþ Hasamedianwagethatisatleast80%oftheregion’s

medianwageþ Offerscareeradvancementpotential

BESTBET

What is a Best Bet?

How Do We Help Communities Find Best Bets?

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Counseling toCareers BestBetAction ResearchProcess

MyBestBets

Training forregionalteamsonhowtoimplementtheBestBetResearchprocess

“BestBetProfiles”aredevelopedforacityorregion

Aweb-basedPostsecondary& CareerExplorationplatform

Determinebestbets– Reviewfindingsfromthelabormarket,postsecondaryprograms,andemployersagainstasetofbestbetcriteria– Evenifaprogramisabestbet,itwillnotbetherightfitforeverystudent–considerwhatkindofstudentsmayormaynotbewellsuitedforeachbestbet

Investigatepostsecondaryprograms–Whatprogramsareofferedinin-demandfields,andwhooffersthem?–Doestheprogramenrollstudentslikeyours,andaretheypersisting?–Whatsupportsdostudentsreceive?–Aregraduatesemployedinthefieldforwhichtheytrained?

Learnthelabormarket–Whatentry-leveljobsareindemandandofferagoodstartingwage?–Whatareemployersseeking?–Howcanstudentsgetafootinthedoor?

Identifying Best Bets

Strengthenemployerrelationships–Whateducation/training,skills,andexperiencesareneededforindemandjobswithregionalemployers?–Whichentry-leveljobsofferthebestcareeradvancementopportunities?–Howcantrainingprogramcurriculabettermeetemployerneeds?

LocalizedLaborMarketAnalysis

PostsecondaryProgramAnalysis AnalysisofEmployerInterviews

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Eachprofile:• Capturesimportantoccupationalinformation

• Summarizeswhatemployersarelookingfor(requirementsandpreferences)

• Providesanoverviewofanassociatedpostsecondaryprogram

• Identifiescareertrajectoryopportunities,includingwagegrowth

• TheBestBetsProcess:• EngagingwiththeFramework

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Educationand/orWorkExperience

JobOpenings

Growth

Wages

• Particularlytheoccupation’s10th percentilewageinyourmetropolitanstatisticalarea(MSA)– oftenagoodindicatorofanentry-levelwageforthosewithlittleornoindustryexperience(orsometimesbetweenthe10th and25thpercentiles)

• Medianwage inyourMSA– oftenahelpfulindicatorofwhatonecouldearnafterworkingintheoccupationforseveralyears– alsoakeybenchmarktolookatrelativetotheMSA’smedianwageforalloccupations

• Percentchange(alsoreferredtoasgrowthorgrowthrate)projected foryourstateoverthemostrecent10-yearperiod

• Highgrowthdoesn’tnecessarilymeangreatopportunity,andlow(orevennegative)growthdoesn’tnecessarilymeanpooropportunity

• Jobopeningsprojectedforyourstateoverthemostrecent10-yearperiod• Seeifjobopeningsarereportedannuallyorintotalovera10-yearperiod– thathassignificantimplicationsaboutpotentialdemand

• Typicaleducationneededforentry(inU.S.)• National%ofworkersintheoccupationwithabachelor’sdegreeorhigher –sometimes,insomeregions,jobsthattypicallyrequireanassociate’sdegreeare− inreality− inaccessiblewithoutabachelor’sand/orsignificantexperience

• Typicalworkexperienceneeded

The LMI Data Important for Uncovering Best Bets

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Education,and/orWorkExperience

JobOpenings

Growth

Wages

Foragivenoccupation,youshouldknow:

• Findoutaboutbenefits(e.g.,healthinsurance,tuitionremission,retirementplans,long-termdisabilityinsurance)– studentsneedtoknowaboutthevalueoftheseincentives

• Wagegainsassociatedwithcareeradvancement

• Growthdoesnotalwaysmeanjobopportunity,andprojecteddeclinesmaystillyieldhighnumbersofqualityjobs

• Occupationswithprojecteddeclinesmaystillhavenumerousjobopeningsduetopeopleleavingjobsforvariousreasons(replacementjobs)

• Contactemployersandworkforcedevelopmentorganizationstofindoutifoccupationsreallyhavejobopeningsinyourregion

• Thelevelofeducationrequiredforentryintoagivenoccupationmaydifferbyregionandemployer

• Majoreconomicevents(e.g.,arecession)canaffecttheeducation/training/workexperienceemployersrequire/preferwhenhiring

However…

Validating the Data

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Best Bet Occupation Criteria

• Anentry-leveloccupationthat:

– Isgroundedinstudentcareerinterestandaccessibletonew/recentgraduateswithlittleornoindustryexperience

– Requireslessthanabachelor’sdegree

– Isprojectedtogrowandhasopeningsinthestate

– Hasamedianwagethatisatleast80%oftheregion’smedianwage

– Offersopportunitiesforadvancement

IMAGESOURCE:© BlendImages/Fotolia

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The Challenge

SOURCES:*CommunityCollegeResearchCenter,GetWiththeProgram:AcceleratingCommunityCollegeStudents’EntryintoandCompletionofProgramsofStudy,2012;**CollegeFactual

Forthesereasons,studentsmustunderstandprogramsofinterestfromalabormarket,postsecondary,andemployerperspective.

• Researchsuggeststhatitiscriticalforastudenttoenteraprogramofstudyasquicklyaspossible.Studentswhodonotenteraprogramofstudywithinayearofenrollmentarefarlesslikelytoeverenteraprogramorcompleteacredential.*

• Findingtherightprogramfromthestartisalsoimportantbecausemoststudentsdon’tunderstandthecostsofchangingmajorsintermsoftimeandmoney.

• Eachtimeastudentchangesamajor,he/sheloses$45,000 onaverage,betweenlosttuitioncreditsandlostwagesfromenteringtheworkforcelaterthanexpected.Inaddition,he/shewillalsoincurmorestudentdebtovertime.**

Gathering the Right Information on PSE Programs

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UsingthePostsecondaryInterviewProtocol:

• Howmuchinformationcanwegetaboutapostsecondaryprogram online?

• Lookupalocalcommunitycollegeinyourregion– Findaoneyeartechnicalprogram/certificatethatisbeing

offered– Answerthequestionsonyourpostsecondaryinterview

protocolo Forexample:

- AustinCommunityCollege– checkout“quickcareers”

- CommunityCollegeofVermont– checkoutCertifiedProductionTechnician

EnteringandSucceedinginthe

Program

ProgramDesignandStructure

AlignmentwithEmployers

ProgramOutcomes

• Arethereminimumscores requiredonentry-leveltests?• Isthereawaitlistand,ifso,whatcanstudentsdointheinterim?• Whatsupportsexisttoensurethatstudentsaresuccessful?

• Whatwillstudentslearnasaresultofcompletingtheprogram?• Whatistheprogram’s instructionalapproach(e.g.,hands-onlearningvs.lecture-based)?

• Whatisthecostoftheprogram?Medianstudentdebtuponfinishingtheprogram?

• Whatjob(s)doestheprogrampreparegraduatesfor?• Howdoestheprograminvolveemployers(e.g.,design,internships,etc.)?

• Canex-offendersworkintheoccupation/field?

•Whataretheratesofpersistenceandcompletionintheprogram?•Whatpercentageofgraduatesgethired?Wheredotheytypicallygo,andhowmuchcantheyexpecttoearn?

Gathering the Right Information on PSE Programs

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Best Bet Program Criteria

Sincethereisnobestbetprogramforeveryone,it'scriticalthatyouthinkaboutwhatkindsofstudentswouldbeagoodmatchforeachoneyouidentify.

BESTBETPROGRAM• Aprogramthat:

– Iscompressedandleadstoacredential(lessthanabachelor’sdegree)thatisoftenstackable

– Isaccessibletoyourstudents(oratleastasubsetofthem)

– Hasstrongretentionandcompletionrates.Retentionshouldbe75%+fromonesemester/cycletothenext.Completionshouldbeatleast65%foracertificateprogramandatleast55%foranassociate’sdegreeprogram.

– Hasevidenceofhighjobplacement– atleast75%ofprogramgraduatesareabletogainjobsintheindustry

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Getting Employers on Board

• Postsecondaryprogramcoordinatorsandstaffofnon-creditworkforcedivisions(askaboutemployerswhohavehiredprogramgraduates,employersservingoncollegeadvisorycommittees,etc.)

• YourlocalWorkforceInvestmentBoard,One-StopCareerCenter,andChamberofCommerce

• Labormarketresearch– Identifyemployerstiedtoin-demandoccupations(e.g.,yourstateLMIofficemayhavea‘majoremployer’databaseforyourregion). Search CareerInfonet’sEmployerLocatortool.

• Localnewsreporterswhowriteabouttrendsinthelocaleconomy,includinggrowinganddecliningoccupations/industries,employerswhoarehiring,etc.

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Validating Best Bet Occupation Criteria with Employers

• Istheoccupationreallyaccessibletonew/recentgraduateswithlittleornoindustryexperience?

• Doesitreallyrequirelessthanabachelor’sdegree?

• Isitexpectedtogrowanddoesithaveopeningsinthestate/region?

• Doesitpayamedianwagethatisclosetotheregion’smedianwage?

• Doesitoffercareeradvancement?

IMAGESOURCE:© BlendImages/Fotolia

Tools & Resources

• CounselorTraining– Twodays;regionalteams– ActionResearchProcess– Profilescreatedandshared

• ProfileDevelopmentandTraining– JFF-drivendevelopmentofBestBetprofilesandpathways

• MyBestBets– Student- andStudentSupportstaff-facingplatform– Studentsidentifytheirownbestbetandcreateapostsecondaryplan

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• Whatarewelearninginthefield?

Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going?

CitiesPhiladelphia,PA,LosAngeles,CA,NewYorkCity,NY,Providence,RI,Portland,ME,Hartford,CT,Boston,MAProgramsYouthBuildUSAprograms;HighSchools;Community-basedorganizations;JobCorpsCenters;TheCorpsNetwork;NorthCarolinaCommunityCollege;DudleySquareNeighborhoodInitiativeThisFall(2016)• NewYorkCityDepartmentofEducationPilot• JobCorpsNationalPilot• KIPPCharterSchoolDC• BaltimorePilotswiththreecommunity-basedprograms

Best Bet Profiles

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• Improvepostsecondaryguidanceandtransitions– Schoolsandprogramshavedevelopedbrochuresandprofilestomakeinformation

moretransparentandhelpstudentsandfamiliesbecomemoreinformedconsumers

• Strengthenrelationshipswithcollegesandcommunitypartners– Schoolsandyouth-servingorganizationshavereportedthatthishashelpedto

strengthen(ordevelopnew)relationshipswithcommunitycollegesaswellasothercommunitypartners(e.g.,workforceboards,unions,CBOs,etc.)

– Newlinesofcommunicationhaveopenedupacrossdepartmentswithincollegecampuses– includingbetweenthecontinuingeducationandcredit-bearingsidesofcolleges

• Informthedevelopmentofnew/revisionofexistingpathways– InformeddistrictleadersastheyreviewtheirCTEpathways– Newnursingprogramatonecollege;revisionofasolarpanelprogramatanother

• HowhaveusersintegratedhowMyBestBetsisusedintheirprograms?– PeerCoachingmodel– Counselor-authoredlessonsthatsupport/scaffolduseofMyBestBets– BestBet-relevantcurriculum

• WhatarethefeaturesofMyBestBets thathavebeeninfluencedbyusers?– Coachdashboard– Coaches,students,andadminscanaddpostsecondaryprograms– Studentsignon– Flexiblecohortmodel– Platformcanbeforked,whitelabeledquiteeasily– FullyADAcompliant&UDLfriendly(viaOakFoundation)– Reportingdashboard

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MyBestBets

Piloting MyBestBets: Successes and Challenges

• Value-add– Students are exposed to occupations/opportunities they had never thought of– Hands-on, empowered process – Increased interactions with peers– Better understanding of next steps with a plan in place– Coaches find that the tasks help organize students

• Challenges– Coaches might need more professional development around implementing the

framework and using technology for learning– User-flow issues– Challenges with the “off-screen” networking aspect of the program

• Whattools/resourcesareavailablenow?

CLARE BERTRAND, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, JOBS FOR THE FUTURECBERTRAND@JFF.ORG

Thank you!